Over the years there have been a lot of questions about the serial numbers of our cars. Jeff Gillis spent a great deal of time searching through various publications and compiled the following information. It is not complete, and he was certain that there were probably some errors in it, but he felt that at least it was a start. The Dominion Motors, Rugby truck, Flint, DeVaux and Locomobile tables have since been corrected from later research. If you have a serial number that falls outside the ranges listed, please let the webmaster know. Numbers in parentheses after a model show the approximate start date of production.
DeVaux
| Year | Model | Oakland | Grand Rapids | Production dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 6-75 | C-1001 to C-4745 | April 15 to September 25, 1931 (Oakland then closed for good) | |
| 1931 | 6-75 | M-1001 to M-4745 | April 6 to December 31, 1931 | |
| 1932 | 6-75 | M-4746 to M-5609 | January 1 to March 31, 1932 | |
| 1932 | 6-80 | M-5610 to M-6468 | April 1 to September 30, 1932 | |
| 1932 | Continental (DeVaux) 6-80 | M-6469 to M-7038 | October 1, 1932 to January 31, 1933 |
The DeVaux-Hall Motor Corporation was taken over by the Continental DeVaux Company on February 20, 1932. The new company went on building the 6-75 until the 6-80 was introduced on April 1, 1932. See DeVaux Serial Numbers for the 1930–31 dates.
Dominion Motors
Durant cars built at Leaside (Toronto) by Dominion Motors Ltd., which took over Durant Motors of Canada in 1931. In 1931 the Leaside cars changed from T to a letter for each model: A = 407, B = 614, C = 618, D = 611. The numbers carry on from the 1930 Leaside ranges (407 T1001–T3350, then A3351; 614 T1001–T4269, then B4270). The 618 was built only in Canada, so its C numbers are Leaside, not Oakland. The Frontenac E, built at Leaside from August 1931, had its own separate E series (see Frontenac Serial Numbers).
| Year | Model | Leaside |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 407 (1/31) | A3351 to A3818 |
| 1931 | 611 (4/31) | D1001 to end |
| 1931 | 614 (1/31) | B4270 to B5034 |
| 1931 | 618 (1/31) | C1001 to C1363 |
| 1932 | 407 (1/32) | H3819 to end |
| 1932 | 614 (2/32) | J5035 to end |
| 1932 | 618 (2/32) | F1364 to end |
| 1932 | 633 (5/32) | L1001 to end |
Early Durant
| Year | Model | Elizabeth | Lansing | Leaside | Oakland | New York | Muncie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | N1 | ||||||
| 1922 | A-22 | L1 – L6766 (12/21) | T1 – T2659 (3/22) | N2 to N15407 (Touring) N1222 to N13441 (Roadster) N2485 to N15275 (Sedan) N2486 to N15184 (Coupe) N2 – N15326 (8/21) | |||
| 1922 | B22 (12/22) | M101 – M3313 | |||||
| 1923 | A-22 (8/22) | E1 to E8462 (12/22) | L6767 to L29806 | T2660 to T4540 | C1 to C4841 (?/22) | N15327 to N31331 | |
| 1923 | B-22 (8/22) | EX101 to EX3318 (red book #47 ??) | NYX1005 to NYX3738 (red book #47 ??) | M3314 – M4682 | |||
| 1924 | A-22 (8/23) | E8463 to E101572 | L29807 to L101104 | T4541 – T100157 | C4842 – C100145 | N31332 – N35500 | |
| 1925 | A-22 (8/24) | E101573 – E151893 | L101105 – L151391 | T100158 – T100565 | C100146 – C100693 | ||
| 1926 | A-22 (8/25) | E151894 up | L151392 up | T100566 up | C100694 up |
Late Durant
| Year | Model | Elizabeth | Lansing | Leaside | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | M2 (4/28) | E1001 – E35000 | T1001 – T8013 | C1001 – C10000 | |
| 1928 | 55 (1/28) | E1001 – E7500 | L1001 – L7500 | T1001 – T2214 | C1001 – C7500 |
| 1928 | 65 (1/28) | E1001 – E9500 | T1001 – T2451 | C1001 – C9500 | |
| 1928 | 75 (1/28) | E1001 – E3000 | T1001 – T3000 | C1001 – C3000 | |
| 1929 | M2 (8/28) | E35001 – E42000 | T8014 – T9300 | C35001 – C37000 | |
| 1929 | M4 (9/28) | E1001 – E15000 | T1001 – T2272 | C1001 – C10000 | |
| 1929 | 40 (1/29) | L1001 – L5000 | T1001 – T10000 | C1001 – C5000 | |
| 1929 | 55 (8/28) | E7501 – E8700 | L7501 – L8700 | T1215 – T2307 | C7501 – C8700 |
| 1929 | 60 (10/28) | E1001 – E5000 | L1001 – L5000 | T1001 – T5000 | C1001 – C5000 |
| 1929 | 60 (1/29) | E5001 – E8659 | L5001 – L18976 | T5001 – T6233 | C5001 – C8572 |
| 1929 | 65 (8/28) | E9501 – E15000 | T2452 – T2900 | C9501 – C15000 | |
| 1929 | 66 (1/29) | L1001 – L3483 | T1001 – T5200 | C1001 – C5200 | |
| 1929 | 70 (1/29) | L1001 – L1562 | T1001 – T1562 | C1001 – C1562 | |
| 1929 | 75 (8/28) | E3001 – E5000 | T3001 – T5000 | C3001 – C5000 | |
| 1930 | 40 (8/29) | T10001 – T16024 | C12000 – C15000 | ||
| 1930 | 60 (8/29) | L18977 – L23635 | T21000 – T23190 | C22001 – C24316 | |
| 1930 | 63 (8/29) | L1001 – L5973 | T1001 – T3580 T8138 – T8899 | ||
| 1930 | 66 (8/29) | L3484 up | T5201 – T5695 | C5201 up | |
| 1930 | 70 (8/29) | L1563 – L2500 | T1563 – T2500 | C1563 – C2500 | |
| 1930 | 407 (4/30) | T1001 – T3350 | C1001 and up to Sept 22. | ||
| 1930 | 610 (9-30) | L1001 – L2000 | C1001 to end Dec 17 | ||
| 1930 | 612 (Oct-7-30) | L1001 – L2700 | |||
| 1930 | 614 (1/30) | L1001 – L30000 | T1001 – T4269 | C1001 – C7783 to end Dec 17 | |
| 1930 | 617 (1/30 US and 8/30 Can) | L1001 up | T1001 to end | ||
| 1931 | 610 (1/31) | L2001 to end 8/31 | |||
| 1931 | 612 (1/31) | L2701 to end 8/31 | |||
| 1931 | 614 (1/31) | L30001 to end 8/31 | |||
| 1931 | 619 (5/30) | L1001 to end 8/31 | |||
| 1932 | 621 | L1001 up, if ever produced | |||
| 1932 | 622 | L1001 up, if ever produced |
Flint serial numbers
The letter before the number shows the factory: N for New York (Long Island City), E for Elizabeth, New Jersey, and F for Flint, Michigan. The date after each model is when that model year began.
| Year | Model | New York | Elizabeth | Flint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | E-55 (1-23) | N-101 – N-517 | ||
| 1924 | E-55 (8/23) | N-518 – N-4689 | E-101 – E-9015 | F-101 – F-8325 |
| 1925 | E-55 (8-24) | E-9016 – E-15927 | F-8326 – F-16587 | |
| 1925 | H-40 (8/24) | F-101 – F-7699 | ||
| 1925 | B-40 (1/25) | F-7700 – F-12476 | ||
| 1926 | E-55 (8/25) | F-16588 – F-18930 | ||
| 1926 | B-40 (8/25) | F-12477 – F-15209 | ||
| 1926 | E-80 (1/26) | F-18931 – F-20102 | ||
| 1926 | Z-18 (1/26) | F-101 – F-1911 | ||
| 1926 | B-60 (1/26) | F-15210 – F-18775 | ||
| 1927 | E-80 (8/26) | E-20114 – E-20459(8-29- 26 to 7-31-27) | F-20103 – F-20113 (8-1-26 to 8-28-26) | |
| 1927 | Z-18 (8/26) | E- 1915 – E-2218(8-29-26 to end) | F-1912 – F-1914 (8-1-26 to 8-28-26) | |
| 1927 | B-60 ((8/26) | E – 19045 – E-19706(8-28-26 to 7-31-27 | F-18776 – F-19044(8-1-26 to 8-28-26) | |
| 1928 | E-80 (8-27) | E-20460 – to end | ||
| 1928 | B-60 (8/27) | E-19707 – to end |
Locomobile serial numbers
All built at the Bridgeport, Connecticut plant. Durant bought the Locomobile Company on July 24, 1922.
| Year | Model | Car numbers | Production dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921–22 | 48-7 | 7-17000 to 7-17999 | |
| 1923 | 48-8 | 8-18000 to 8-18399 | August 1, 1922 to December 31, 1923 |
| 1924 | 48-8 | 8-18400 to 8-18999 | January 1 to about September 1924 |
| 1925 | 48-9 | 19-101 to 19-3999 | Introduced late 1924 |
| 1926 | 48-9-10 | 19-4000 to 19-5000 | Introduced about January 1, 1926 |
| 1927 | 6-48 | 19501 to 19597 | January 1 to December 31, 1927 |
| 1928 | 6-48 | 19598 and up | January 1 to December 31, 1928 |
| 1929 | 6-48 | Built to order | January 1929 to March 1929 (factory closure) |
| 1925 | Junior Eight (8-66) | 101 to 2364 | August 1 to December 31, 1925 |
| 1926 | Junior Eight (8-66) | 2365 to 4774 | January 1 to December 31, 1926 |
| 1927 | Junior Eight (8-66) | 4775 to 5750 | January 1 to October 31, 1927 |
| 1928 | 8-70 (replaced the Junior Eight) | 5751 to 6792 | November 1, 1927 to December 31, 1928 |
| 1929 | 8-70 | 6793 to end | January 1 to March 1929 (factory closure) |
| 1927 | 80 | 101 to 600 | January 1 to December 31, 1927 |
| 1928 | 80 | 601 to 1999 | January 1 to December 31, 1928 |
| 1929 | 80 | 2000 to end | January 1 to March 1929 (factory closure) |
| 1925 | Junior Six | Show car only; not produced | |
| 1926 | 6-90 | 33-101 to 33-284 | January 1 to December 31, 1926 |
| 1927 | 6-90 | 33-285 to 33-430 | January 1 to December 31, 1927 |
| 1928 | 6-90 | 33-431 and up | January 1 to December 31, 1928 |
| 1929 | 6-90 | Built to order | January 1 to March 1929 (factory closure) |
| 1929 | 8-86 | 2000 to end | January 1 to March 1929 (factory closure) |
| 1929 | 8-88 | 88-2000 to end | January 1 to March 1929 (factory closure) |
Rugby truck serial numbers
The Rugby line was established on April 1, 1928, when Star truck production stopped (March 31, 1928). The M2 Star became the M2 Durant on April 1, 1928. In October 1928 the M2 car became the Durant M4, and on September 4, 1928 the M2 truck became the Rugby S4. The Star L and X became the Rugby L and X.
| Model year | Model | Elizabeth | Lansing | Leaside | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 (4/28) | T Fast Mail | E-1001 to E-1200 | L-1001 – L-1200 | T-1001 – T-1200 | C-1001 – C-1200 |
| 1928 (4/28) | L, L2 Express | E-1001 to E-1500 | L-1001 to L-1500 | T-1001 to T-1500 | C-1001 to C-1500 |
| 1928 (4/28) | X | E-1001 to E-2000 | L-1001 to L-2000 | T-1001 to T-2000 | C-1001 to C-2000 |
| 1929 (9/28) | S, S2, S4 | E-1001 to E-6000 (April 1929 plant closing) | L-1001 to L-6000 | T-1001 – T-6000 | C-1001 – C-6000 |
| 1929 (8/28) | T Fast Mail | E-1201 to end (April 1929 plant closing) | L-1201 to end | T-1201 to end | C-1201 to end |
| 1929 (8/28) | L, L2 Express | E-1501 to E-3500 (April 1929 plant closing) | L-1501 to L-3500 (8/28 to 12/29) | T-1501 to T-3500 (8/28 to 12/29) | C-1501 to C-3500 (8/28 to 12/29) |
| 1929 (8/28) | X, X2 | E-2001 to end (April 1929 plant closing) | L-2001 to end May 28, 1929 | T-2001 to end May 28, 1929 | C-2001 to end May 28, 1929 |
| 1929 (5/29) | 401 | L-1001 – L-1294 | T-1001 – T-1294 | C-1001 – C-1294 | |
| 1930 (8/29) | S, S2, S4 | L-6001 to end (12/29) | T-6001 to end (12/29) | C-6001 to end (12/29) | |
| 1930 (8/29) | 401 | L-1295 to end July 1930 | T-1295 to end July 1930 | C-1295 to end July 1930 | |
| 1930 | 406 | L-1001 to ? | T-1001 to ? | ||
| 1930 (1/30) | 614 | L-1001 – L-1098 | T-1001 – T-1098 | C-1001 – C-1098 (perhaps) | |
| 1930 (1/30) | 615 | L-1001 to L-1278 | T-1001 – T-1278 | C-1001 to factory closing Dec 17, 1930 | |
| 1931 | 406 | No data | No data | ||
| 1931 | 416A | T-1001 to end | |||
| 1931 (1/31) | 614 | L-1099 to L-1154 to plant closing Aug 1931 | T-1099 – T-1154 | ||
| 1931 (1/31) | 615 | L-1279 – L-1500 to plant closing Aug 1931 | T-1279 – T-1500 | ||
| 1931 (1/31) | 616 | L-1001 – L-1100 to plant closing Aug 1931 | T-1001 – T-1100 | ||
| 1932 (1/32) | 614 | T-1155 to end | |||
| 1932 (1/32) | 615 | T-1501 to end Dec 1933 | |||
| 1932 | 616 | T-1101 to end Dec 1933 | |||
| 1933 | 615 | See 1932 | |||
| 1933 | 616 | See 1932 |
The L2, X2, S, S2 and 416 names appear only in Canadian parts lists. Information on Rugby trucks is scarce, and some of these ranges are still uncertain.
Star auto serial numbers
| Year | Model | Prod M/Y | Elizabeth Plant | Lansing Plant | Leaside Plant | Oakland Plant | New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | C | 3/22 | E-1 – E-830 | N1 – N8 | |||
| 1923 | C | * | E-1-E-119987 | L-1 – L-44255 | T-1 – T-17412 | C-1 – C-18389 | N-8 – N-3850 |
| 1924 | C | 8/23 | E-119989 – E-130000 | L-44256 – L-55000 | T-17413 – T-19000 | C-18390 – C-40000 | |
| 1924 | F | 11/23 | E-200000 – E-260016 | L-200000 – L-230712 | T-200000 – T-206108 | C-200000 – C-214191 | |
| 1925 | F | 8/24 | E-260017 – E-289986 | L-230713 – L-298294 | T-206109 – T-277533 | C-214192 – C-280631 | |
| 1926 | F | 8/25 | E-289987 – E-325000 | L-298295 – L-325000 | T-277534 – T-325000 | C-280632 – C-325000 | |
| 1926 | M | 1/26 | E-350000 – E-379999 | L-350000 – L-379999 | T-350000 – T-379999 | C-350000 – C-379999 | |
| 1926 | R | 1/26 | E-1001 – E-15999 | L-1001 – L-15999 | T-1001 – T-14003 | C-1001 – C-15999 | |
| 1927 | M | 8/26 | E-380000 – E-414999 | L-380000 – L-414999 | T-380000 – T-414999 | C-380000 – C-414999 | |
| 1927 | R | 8/26 | E-16000 – E-32999 | L-16000 – L-32999 | T-14004 – T-32999 | C-16000 – C-32999 | |
| 1928 | M | 8/27 | E-415000 -E-425000 | L-415000 – L-425000 | T-415000 – T-425000 | C-415000 – C-425000 | |
| 1928 | R | 8/27 | E-33000 – E-40000 | L-33000 – L-40000 | T-33000 – T40000 | C-33000 – C-40000 | |
| 1928 | M2 | 1/28 | E-1001 – E-6000 | T-1001 – T-2000 |
*1923 Start date N Sept 15 1922, L Sept 1 1922, C Oct 10 1922, T Oct 11 1922, E Nov 24 1922
Star truck serial numbers
| Year | Model | Elizabeth Plant | Lansing Plant | Leaside Plant | Oakland Plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | C | E-1-119987 | L-1–44255 | T-1-17412 | C-1-18389 |
| 1924 | CC | E-119989 – E-180000 | L-44256 – L-55000 | T-17413 – T-19000 | C-18390 – C-22000 |
| 1925 | CC | E-175433 – E-181170 | L-60500 – L-85000 | T-100000 – T-181193 | C-260004 – C-280631 |
| 1926 | CC | E-181171 to end | L-85000 to end | T-181194 to end | C-280632 to end |
| 1926 | M | E-350000 – E-379999 | L-350000 – L-379999 | T-350000 – T-379999 | C-350000 – C-379999 |
| 1927 | M | E-380000 – E-414999 | L-380000 – L-414999 | T-380000 – T-414999 | C-380000 – C-414999 |
| 1927 | L | E-1001 – E-1999 | L-1001 – L-1999 | T-1001 – T-1999 | C-1001 – C-1999 |
| 1928 | M | E-415000 to end | L-415000 to end | T-415000 to end | C-415000 to end |
| 1928 | L | E-2000 to end | L-2000 to end | T-2000 to end | C-2000 to end |
This information was first published an article from the May 1990 Durant Standard by its editor Jeff Gillis, now deceased. The subject is serial numbers, a subject that is important in establishing the model year of the Durant Family of Cars but on which there is some disagreement on the interpretation. The new model year cars were normally produced in the late summer or early fall months of the year preceding the new calendar year. For example, the 1929 models would be in the dealer’s show room in the August to October time frame of 1928. However, Durant, as well as other carmakers, was trying to stay afloat during the depression years and some new models didn’t appear until the actual calendar year. That is why it is important to know the date production started. If you have any information on Rugby car serial numbers send them to Webmaster.